Aerial photos, Thursday June 28, 2012, of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs shows the destructive path of the fire in Mountain Shadows Subdivision area.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Ben Garland, right, salutes Brig. Gen. Trulan A. Eyre during a ceremony where Garland was sworn into the Colorado Air National Guard by at the team's headquarters and training facility in Englewood, Colo., on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Garland graduated from the U. S. Air Force Academy in 2010.

Denver Broncos defensive linemen Ben Garland, left, and defensive end Jeremy Beal are in 2012 Denver Broncos Rookie Camp at the practice field of Denver Broncos Headquarters in Englewood, Colo., on Friday, May 11, 2012.

Ben Garland’s grandparents fled their home in the Mountain Shadows subdivision in Colorado Springs Tuesday afternoon with only enough time to grab a few belongings before the Waldo Canyon Fire tore through the neighborhood.

Sharon and Hal Garland evacuated to the Denver metro area where they stayed with their grandson, a defensive lineman who is competing for a spot on the Broncos’ roster. Together, they saw aerial photos of the subdivision that confirmed their fears: Their home was gone.

Garland said his family lost many irreplaceable heirlooms, and Garland kept many of his own belongings at the home, all of which are now gone. The family, though, is grateful they were all able to escape unharmed. The extended family, including an aunt, uncle and niece, has since gone to Grand Junction to stay with Garland’s mother and brother.

“I just wanted to thank them for their hard work, going out of their way to save peoples homes and lives,” Garland said. “It was cool to see how community came together. It makes you proud to be a part of Colorado.”